Motorcycle farkle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Motorcycle enthusiasts may install accessories, called farkles (also spelled farkels), to customize their machine. The word is generally accepted to mean a combination of "function" and "sparkle", hence, farkle. One source attributes the term to Pete Wells, the organizer of a 1997 Honda ST1100 rally [1]. The term is well known in the North American sport touring community.

An enthusiast may be in the process of "farkling". The completed motorcycle would be all "farkled up". Radar detectors, Global Positioning System receivers, heated grips, and satellite radios are some of those farkles. Other accessories could be aftermarket seats or bar risers, which make the motorcycle more suitable for long miles.

The term Farkle apparently originated among the ST1100 riders. It is an acronym:

F.ancy

A.ccessory

R.eally

K.ool &

L.ikely

E.xpensive

From the 2 Wheel Innovations web site:

Farkle:

N: An Accessory intended to improve or embellish the original system; opulent luxury item;

V: to add pleasure or comfort; to strut about after adding additional items to stock unit thus improving value or performance, usually saying "whoo-hoo" loudly to yourself or your neighbors.

As defined by the ST1100 owners' club, a farkle is:

1. (Noun) any modification to one's motorcycle.

2. (Verb) the act of modifying one's motorcycle in some way.

Farkles may have functional or merely aesthetic value, or in fact no value whatsoever! To farkle is to expand one's connection to the motorcycle, to enhance its uniqueness, and provide a venue for personalization.